The Philadelphia U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicted Flying Tigers of Lancaster, Penn., its president Jay Stout and his son Joel Stout, with various crimes, including conspiracy, fraud involving aircraft parts, wire fraud and obstruction of justice. Also indicted was Howard Gunter, a former FAA certified mechanic and inspector, on charges of conspiracy and fraud involving aircraft parts.

The investigation alleges that Flying Tigers was not an FAA-certified repair station or a certified maintenance facility but instead relied upon the FAA certifications and inspection authority of individual mechanics who did not hold the required credentials. The five-year investigation revealed the defendants routinely altered airframe and engine logbooks and made false entries to conceal their actions. The indictment alleges that once Jay Stout learned of the government’s investigation he obstructed justice by altering aircraft logbooks to conceal the false certifications. Flying Tigers conducted more than 75 questionable aircraft inspections between 2006 and 2009.

The company is not related to the 1st American Volunteer Group known as the Flying Tigers or its namesake descendant Flying Tiger Line. (FedEx bought that company in 1989.)